CHICAGO – Chicagoans who want to get vaccinated against coronavirus can now try to find appointments across the city using an online scheduling tool.
The city is partnering with Zocdoc to create a more centralized platform where people can schedule vaccination appointments when they are available, said Dr. Allison Arwady, head of the Chicago Department of Public Health, on Tuesday. You can use the Zocdoc tool by clicking here.
Until now, citizens of Chicago eligible for vaccination during Phase 1B have been instructed to call their doctor or hospital, to try to make an appointment at a local pharmacy or to see if they could be vaccinated at their workplace. This caused headaches for many people, who struggled to find out where they could be vaccinated – and then had to struggle with other people to get appointments during the short periods they are available before filling out.
It will still be difficult to get nominations, as the demand for vaccine doses remains high, while the city receives only a limited amount from the federal government. And the city still encourages people to try to get appointments through their primary care provider, their employer or a pharmacy.
But the city hopes that programmer Zocdoc can be a free and less confusing resource for Chicagoans who would otherwise find it difficult to find and schedule a meeting.
RELATED: See how you can be vaccinated against coronavirus in Chicago
Zocdoc will list open consultations at the city’s vaccination sites, as well as local organizations such as AMITA Health, Erie Family Health and Innovative Express Care, among others. This will create “a central market to help Chicagoans have access to vaccines,” according to a city press release.
Not all vaccine providers in Chicago are listing their open queries on the scheduling tool. But more suppliers are expected to join, according to the city. You can see other sites where you can apply to be vaccinated here.
People will be able to apply online for appointments through Zocdoc. The tool will check if you are eligible to be vaccinated. If so, it will show nearby vaccination locations and open appointments. People can then set up a meeting.
Appointments will be limited and there will be times when people check the Zocdoc and there are no hours available, said Richard Fine, vice president of strategy at Zocdoc. But people can give Zocdoc their e-mails and the scheduler will contact them when the appointments are opened.
The programmer is free for users and Zodoc does not charge the city and does not sell people’s data, said Fine.
People currently eligible for vaccination in Chicago:
- Chicagoans aged 65 and over, with special priority for people aged 75 and over and people aged 65 and over with underlying medical conditions.
- Essential frontline workers:
- Correctional workers.
- First to answer.
- Grocery store workers.
- People working in manufacturing / factory configurations with outbreaks.
- Daycare staff, elementary and high school and early childhood education.
- Public transport workers.
- Other manufacturing workers.
- Agriculture workers.
- Continuity of government and postal workers.
- Phase 1A people, including healthcare professionals.
Vaccine suppliers in and around the city:
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